4th Sunday before Lent – Sermon 37

13th February 2011 Off By Derek Buckthorpe

Prayer to start

May the words of my lips and the thoughts of our hearts be graciously received for the Glory and Honour of our Lord Jesus Christ

AMEN

Introduction

“If only you will” said the man
“you can make me clean”

Do we believe that Jesus can make us clean?

Do we believe that God can restore us – and give us a fresh start?

Heal the bumps and bruises and scars in our lives – and give us a new beginning

The bible is full of stories about men and women who have faith – and trust in God – who have overcome their fears and predjudices and simply asked God for help –

we have two such stories in our readings this morning – in the eyes of those around them both were considered to be beyond help – but in God’s eyes they were just two souls in desperate need-

 

First Point        Healing of Naaman

 

First we have the story of Naaman – a commander in the Syrian Army who had leprosy – He was considered to be “a great man” in his own country – but his leprosy would have alienated him from his people – and he longed for a cure.

His wife had an Isrealite servant girl captured in a raid by the Syrians – who suggested that Naaman visit the prophet Elisha in Samaria – who she believed – would cure him of leprosy –

He set off with a letter from the king and a lot of money – thinking he could buy a cure from God.

But when Naaman finally arrived at Elisha’s house – Elisha simply sent a messenger out to him – to tell him – to wash himself seven times in the river Jordan –

He expected a public ritual – rather than a simple private act – and was deeply offended – but eventually was persuaded by his servants to do what Elisha asked

so he returned and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan – and as he obeyed God’s word Naaman received the gift of God’s grace and was healed –

When he started out Naaman clearly knew nothing about God or His prophet – except what the servant girl had told him – but he was willing to try anything in the hope of getting a cure –

but his pride got the better of him and he turned away – Elisha wanted to show him that healing will come – but from the power of God not from him – and only if he obeyed and trusted the word of the Lord’s prophet – he wanted to teach him humility and faith – this great man expected some great thing or some thing difficult – but God often tests us with small things –

Naaman’s journey of hope – clearly changed him from an arrogant commander – unable to consider washing himself in a dirty foreign river – to one who was prepared to humble himself before God and seek help and forgiveness – he returned home not only cured of Leprosy – but with the peace of the Lord resting upon him.

Naaman’s healing became a sign to a disobedient Israel – that God’s blessing is found only in the path of trustful obedience. There were many lepers in Israel at the time of Naaman – but God had chosen to heal this one – one who was not an Israelite – to show them that He will turn to others – outside the covenant Nation – if they are prepared to follow His word

The Lord is free to work where He wishes – and He will forgive anyone – who turns to Him – whatever nationality and background –

 

Point 2

 

Our second story in our Gospel reading tells us about the cleansing of another leper – but unlike Naaman’s time – lepers in NT times were segregated from other Jews – there was no disease regarded with more terror or pity – probably not too dissimilar to, our reaction to aids a few years ago – and such was the fear of it – and primitive nature of medical understanding – many skin diseases were included under the same title

The Jewish answer to Leprosy was isolation – lepers were considered to be already dead – to meet one would have defiled the person that came into contact –

If anyone classified as a leper was cured – they had to go to a priest and undergo a complicated ceremony involving the sacrifices of birds and lambs, washing and shaving off of hair – and remain in quarantine for 7 days – in order to receive a certificate stating that they were clean –

In this miracle we see one of the most revealing pictures of Jesus – this man was clearly desperate – – By law he had no right to be there let alone speak to Jesus – but instead of driving him away – Jesus meets his needs with compassion – He stretched out His hand and touched Him – which would have horrified any Jew – He answered the man’s desperate plea – and removed his sickness –

The man saw in Jesus something that he had never seen in a religious teacher before – that He was approachable and cares – and understood that he wanted his life back again –

But in the excitement of the moment and sheer relief of being healed – the man harmed the One who cleansed him –

Jesus told the man to go to the priest and undergo the ritual of cleansing to observe the requirements of the law – but instead he told the crowds what had happen to him –

He was healed and he wanted everyone to know it –
the result was that Jesus’ public work in the towns and Synagogues had to stop – Jesus had to stay outside in remote places and wait for the people to come to Him –

Thomas Merton describes sin as “a withdrawal of the love of God in order to love something else”

For Naaman it was his pride – for this man it was his disobedience – that let him down –

we all have a considerable overdraft of sin – and often we don’t recognise our guilt – we plead innocence instead of guilty – but our sins leave their mark both on us and on others –

The problem is that we are all basically flawed – each one of us is a complex mixture of strengths and weaknesses -–some of which are known to us – and some hidden – but Paul reminds us there can be no health for the soul without a committment to righteousness – we must respond to Jesus’ gift of a new start – with obedience and trust in His word –

Paul likens our Christian service to competing in a race – Corinth hosted one of the most famous of Greek athletic events the Isthmian Games – second only to the Olympic Games. It required strict discipline and strenuous training even to compete in the games.

In these races only one person could win – and the prize was a garland of leaves – which soon wilted – but the Christian race was different – every child of God has a potential for success – and the reward for a faithful Christian would last for ever –

In the last 2 verses Paul changes his analogy to that of the boxing ring – to emphasise that we are in a real fight – and have to stay in constant battle with ourselves in order to overcome our human weaknesses

growth in the Spirit involves constantly cutting out of our lives everything that hinders Christ’s work – and patiently building in – the skills and habits of thought and action that make our goal reachable –
prayer – bible reading – and being an active member of God’s church – failing to prepare is like preparing to fail –

we can ever reach a point in this life where it is not possible to sin – but we can have a relationship with Jesus through which it becomes possible not to sin – 

Point 3  

 

We all need to come before God in confession – and humility . We have a loving Father who has broken in to our corrupt world – to rescue us – through His Son –

God, in Christ, died on the cross so that our sins can be forgiven and we can be reconciled back to Him – so that when we humbly come to Him – we may be cleansed – In Jesus we can find salvation and freedom and the true love of God –

When God forgives us for Christ’s sake He accepts us as we are – so that we don’t have to pretend anymore – so that we can face ourselves – our situation – and what we have done – without being driven to despair –

God declares the guilty to be innocent – and declares us righteous in His sight on the basis of the once and for all death of Christ for us

When we grasp this wonderful truth – the healing of all our hurt begins – and we can accept ourselves as God accepts us –

C.S. Lewis describes the Christian life as “ going for the full treatment “–

Jesus is our healer and restorer – in the words of our collect – He strengthens and protects us in all dangers – and carries us through all temptations –

No sickness is too severe for Jesus to cleanse – no sin too great for Jesus to forgive – if we ask Jesus to stretch out His hand and touch our lives – He will – and like the two lepers in our readings – we will be offered a new life – under God 
 

Conclusion

 

So do you believe that God can make us clean?

Do you believe that God can restore us – and give us a fresh start – will you allow God to touch your life – and become part of it – will you obey ad trust in God through Jesus Christ –

God offers us salvation and forgiveness – He heals our souls and our bodies – according to His will – Jesus underlined this from the very beginning of His ministry

Our sin and suffering is not a private matter if it keep us from God – we need to take our forgiveness seriously – His healing power is there for each one of us – waiting to transform our lives – if only we let Him –

Naaman realised that God knew what was best for him – he overcame his pride and accepted – God’s gracious offer of renewal – Will you do the same

Are you prepared to go for the full treatment –

Lets finish with a prayer;

 
Prayer for healing to Finish

Cleanse us, O God,
And put a new and right Spirit within us
Cast us not from thy presence
And take not thy Holy Spirit from us
Restore us to the joy of thy salvation
and uphold us with a willing Spirit
through Jesus Christ our Lord

AMEN